DVD Studio Pro 4.2 Release Notes

DVD Studio Pro 4.2 Release Notes

Introduction

Updated versions of Release Notes may be published as new versions of DVD Studio Pro are released or new information becomes available. You can check for updated information by choosing Help > Release Notes when DVD Studio Pro is open. To download additional information from previous releases of DVD Studio Pro, go to http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/DVD_Studio_Pro_4.1_lbn_z.pdf. This downloads a PDF document that contains information about a variety of issues with DVD Studio Pro.

For the latest support information from AppleCare, choose DVD Studio Pro Support from the DVD Studio Pro Help menu. To receive automatic notification about new support issues, use Safari to bookmark the AppleCare DVD Studio Pro RSS page at feed://docs.info.apple.com/rss/dvdstudiopro.rss. See Safari Help for more information about configuring RSS feeds.

Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard Support

Native Support for More HDV Formats

DVD Studio Pro now correctly supports the following HDV formats for native use in NTSC HD projects:

720p24

720p30

720p60

1080p24

1080p30

1080i60

DVD Studio Pro now correctly supports the following HDV formats for native use in PAL HD projects:

720p25

720p50

1080p25

1080i50

Note: You can import 24 fps and 23.98 fps HDV-format video into PAL projects, but they are not treated natively and are reencoded to a supported MPEG-2 format.

Native support means that the files are not reencoded when they are imported into the appropriate NTSC or PAL HD project. In some cases, however, frames may be set to repeat during playback to create the HD DVD specification’s required frame rate.

Note: None of these formats are supported in SD DVD projects. For the best results, use Compressor to convert any unsupported HDV formats to supported HDV, MPEG-2, or H.264 formats. You can use Compressor to convert these formats (and any other HD-format video) to an SD format that you can use in your SD projects.

Native Support for More H.264 Formats

DVD Studio Pro now correctly supports the following H.264 formats for native use in NTSC HD projects:

720p24

720p30

720p60

1080p24

1080p30

DVD Studio Pro now correctly supports the following H.264 formats for native use in PAL HD projects:

720p25

720p50

1080p25

Native support means that the files are not reencoded when they are imported into the appropriate NTSC or PAL HD project. In some cases, however, frames may be set to repeat during playback to create the HD DVD specification’s required frame rate.

Important: You must use H.264 for HD DVD presets in Compressor to encode H.264 video assets for native use in DVD Studio Pro HD projects.

Still Image Colors Processed Correctly

Still images added to a DVD Studio Pro project now encode correctly. This is especially important if you are using still images that transition to or from a video file that uses the same image.

Note: For projects created with earlier versions of DVD Studio Pro, you can delete the current MPEG encoded files of the still images to force them to be reencoded at their correct levels.

Issue When Using Multiple DLT Tapes

Previously, the first tape you used would work fine; however, the next tape you tried would fail.

DVD Studio Pro 4.2.0 Release Notes

This section contains release information about DVD Studio Pro 4.2.0.

Default Content Locations Have Moved

To streamline the content used by the Final Cut Studio applications, the default content locations have moved to a more centralized location. Content supplied by DVD Studio Pro, including the templates, is now located at /Library/Application Support/Final Cut Studio/DVD Studio Pro/.

Unless you specify a custom location for the DVD Studio Pro content, the Final Cut Studio installer automatically moves the current DVD Studio Pro content to this new location.

Note: This does not affect any custom content you have created or imported into previous versions of DVD Studio Pro. Additionally, if you specified a custom location for the DVD Studio Pro content with a previous installation, the content is not moved to the new location.

Important: Any projects created with previous versions of DVD Studio Pro that use any of the DVD Studio Pro content show the Missing Files dialog when you open them. You can use the Missing Files dialog to locate the moved content in its new location—once you locate one of the files, DVD Studio Pro automatically finds all of the other missing files and the project opens.

SD Projects with CSS Now Convert Correctly to HD Projects

You can now convert an SD project that has the Format for CSS checkbox selected to an HD project without causing potential replication issues. The Format for CSS checkbox is located in the Disc Inspector’s Region/Copyright tab.

The Content Scrambling System (CSS) is not supported by HD projects. Previously, there was no way to deselect Format for CSS in an HD project that was based on an SD project that had that option selected. Converting an SD project to an HD project now automatically deselects the Format for CSS option.

About Converting Your SD Projects to HD Projects

When you import QuickTime HD assets into an SD project, DVD Studio Pro automatically creates an SD MPEG-2 format version of them using its embedded MPEG encoder. If you then convert the project to an HD project, the HD project continues to use these SD MPEG-2 assets.

You can reencode these assets to their HD format by Control-clicking them in the Assets tab and choosing Encoder Settings from the shortcut menu. Once the assets have been reencoded, you can change the resolution of any elements that use them, such as menus or tracks, to match their new HD format.

Note: If you choose a new bit rate when reencoding an asset to an HD format, the original SD-encoded asset remains available for use by the SD project. If you do not choose a new bit rate, the SD-encoded asset may be overwritten by the HD-encoded asset.

DVD Studio Pro Can Prevent You from Deleting a Parse File

When you import some assets, such as MPEG-2 files, DVD Studio Pro creates a parse file that contains basic information about the file, such as its length and GOP structure.

If you remove an asset from the Assets tab, move the asset and its parse file to the Trash, and try to empty the Trash, you may be unable to remove the parse file from the Trash if DVD Studio Pro thinks it is still in use by your current open project.

There are two ways to work around this:

Close the currently open DVD Studio Pro project.

Import a new MPEG-2 asset into the project and select it in the Assets tab.

Some HD DVD Players Fail When Switching from Interlaced to Progressive Video

HD projects that allow the viewer to jump from an element using interlaced video to an element using progressive video may have issues when played back on some set-top HD DVD players. It is expected that future firmware upgrades to those HD DVD players will address this issue.

Some HD DVD Players Incorrectly Position Button Highlights

Some HD DVD players incorrectly position button highlights when they are placed over 720p or 1440i backgrounds. Button highlights placed over 480i, 480p, and 1080i backgrounds are correctly positioned.

HD Projects Using H.264 Assets Require the Latest Version of Apple DVD Player

You must use Apple DVD Player version 4.6.5 or later to play HD projects created with DVD Studio Pro that contain H.264 video. This version of DVD Player is included with Mac OS X v10.4.8.

About HD Project Verification Issues

When you submit an HD project for replication, the replicator may use a verifier to ensure the project is compliant with the HD DVD specification. It is important for the replicator to have the latest version of the verifier to ensure that false issues are not found in your projects. See the Apple Knowledge Base (KB) article at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304992 for details about specific verifier warnings.

About HD DVD Players

There have been several firmware updates for most HD DVD players. Make sure your HD DVD player has the latest firmware.